ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate domains to assess attendee's gain at sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic and their understanding after utilizing services at STI Clinic. METHODS: Study was done in two phases. In-depth interviews were conducted to explore attendee's perception. Domains generated through the first phase were validated by conducting another 50 structured interviews. RESULTS: Major domains developed were perceptions on STI, the source of information, treatment seeking behavior, understanding of treatment, laboratory test, and follow-up. Friends and counselor played an important role as the source of right information, while elder family female played a role in delayed seeking care. CONCLUSION: Developed domains can be used to assess STI clinic attendee's perspective on STI. Poor understanding of STI care component especially prevention, partner treatment, and referral was noted after the clinic visit.
ABSTRACT
This study examined factors that mitigate or heighten HIV risk among HIV-negative wives in serodiscordant relationships in Gujarat, India. Grounded theory was used to analyze 46 interviews (23 couples) where husbands were HIV-positive and wives were HIV-negative. A conceptual framework emerged from analysis from which we identified five pathways and four key behaviors: (a) safer sex, (b) no sex, (c) coercive sex, and (d) unprotected sex. Most couples either practiced safe sex or abstained from sex. Factors such as wives' assertiveness, a wife's fear of acquiring HIV, mutual understanding, positive sex communication, and a husband's desire to protect wife influenced safe sex/sexual abstinence. Factors such as desire for children, a husband's alcohol use, and intimate partner violence influenced coercive and unprotected sex. Counseling topics on sex communication, verbal and non-verbal safer sex strategies, as well as addressing intimate partner violence and alcohol use may be important in preventing risk to HIV-negative wives.
